Fundamentals of Dependable Computing for Software Engineers

Preface

We depend on computer systems for much of what we do, and our dependence is greater than most of us realize. Without computers working correctly, our lives would be changed dramatically and mostly for the worse. The spectrum of services that computers help to provide is very diverse and includes banking, education, transportation, energy production, telecommunications, health care, defense, farming, manufacturing, business operations, and entertainment. A passenger railway system, for example, might be prevented from providing service because of a computer problem just as service might be prevented by a loss of power, damage to the track or rolling stock, seriously inclement weather, or lack of a crew.

This book is about computer system ...